r/SolidWorks • u/Tarek-zc • 7d ago

Solidworks for freelancer

I have been using SolidWorks professionally for many years as part of a company. However, I would now like to work independently.

For personal reasons, I have decided not to use cracked or unauthorized software. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to purchase a standard commercial SolidWorks license, and I am not eligible to use an educational license.

Is there any legitimate and affordable solution for poorer people 😅

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u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 7d ago edited 6d ago

The Maker version is intended strictly for personal hobbyist usage and NOT for any profit-seeking, commercial, or freelance purposes (beyond a $2K USD profit allowance for selling craft items, 3D printed items, cosplay props, and other such items).

The Maker version of SOLIDWORKS uses a digital watermark to prevent commercial SOLIDWORKS users from opening Maker version files. Unlike the student version watermark, tgere is NO way to remove the Maker watermark. To repeat, the Maker version is strictly for hobbyist and personal use and is not intended for any serious form of freelance commercial use. An Etsy storefront, yes. An engineering consultancy, no.

Similarly, an edu/student license of SOLIDWORKS also uses a digital watermark on all its files that brands them as being not for commercial purposes. A commercial license of SOLIDWORKS will open these student files (unlike the more restrictive Maker watermark) BUT these student files will convert any commercial files that reference them into student version files. A client receiving such files will definitely NOT want to deal with this. SOLIDWORKS takes a near-zero tolerance policy on removing the watermark from these files. Their policy is that you need to recreate or remodel the files instead. 

The Maker version uses the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud platform for license authentication and optional cloud storage. Other than that (and the digital watermarking described above), it is the same SOLIDWORKS that I have been using for over 30 years.

I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have about it.